TITLE: Young, Bold and Brilliant: Junior Portrait Awards Winners Announced

South Africa’s next generation of artistic talent took centre stage on 13 June, as the winners of this year’s Junior Portrait Awards were announced at a ceremony in Cape Town. Hosted by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, the awards recognise and support young and emerging artists, offering a platform for creatives to showcase their work at a pivotal stage in their artistic journeys.

At a time when arts education remains under-resourced in many South African schools, initiatives like the Junior Portrait Awards play an important role in nurturing young talent. By creating opportunities for visibility, recognition and growth, the awards help young artists build confidence while opening doors to mentorship, networks and future opportunities.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the Junior Portrait Awards is seeing young artists engage so thoughtfully with portraiture and storytelling,” says Donavan Mynhardt, Curator at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery. “These awards provide a platform for emerging creatives to gain recognition for their talent and grow in confidence. Supporting artists at this stage of their journey is important, because today’s young artists are the voices that will shape the future of South African art.”

Meet the winners

This year’s Junior Portrait Awards showcased an impressive standard of work from artists aged 16 to 18.

First place was awarded to 18-year-old Weliswa Mdluli from Mpumalanga for her work Make Me Pretty. Second place went to 18-year-old Allegra du Randt from KwaZulu-Natal for If He Could, while third place was awarded to 17-year-old Kenah Seba from the Western Cape for Assessing the Damages. The Merit Award was presented to 16-year-old Luche van Jaarsveld from Gauteng for Kaleidoscope of Becoming.

The winning works explored a wide range of themes, from identity to adolescence, demonstrating both technical skill and creative insight.

Winners received art vouchers in recognition of their achievements, with prizes structured as follows: first prize to the value of R5 000, second prize R3 000, and third prize R2 000. The Merit Award winner received a curated art hamper sponsored by Artwire, further supporting their creative journey.

Eighteen-year-old Mdluli’s coloured pencil portrait, Make Me Pretty, explores how people seek to “customise” their appearance in response to insecurity. Depicting the artist drawing herself, the work reflects on the ways we shape and present our identities, and the pressure to meet perceived ideals.

“This award means a lot to me because I’ve always loved art and being recognised in this way feels like a really big accomplishment,” says Mdluli. “Opportunities like the Junior Portrait Awards are important because they help young artists on their creative journey and give them recognition for their work.”

Portraiture remains a powerful medium for storytelling. Through careful observation of a subject’s features, expression and character, young artists are able to explore identity, emotion and personal narrative, while developing both technical skill and creative voice.

The winning works, together with the other shortlisted entries, will be exhibited at Rust-en-Vrede from 13 June to 11 July, offering the public an opportunity to experience the depth of talent and perspective emerging from South Africa’s next generation of artists.

Ends.

About the Junior Portrait Awards

The Junior Portrait Awards form part of the wider Portrait Awards programme, a prestigious biennial competition hosted by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town. Initially launched in 2023 as a local initiative for schools in the Durbanville area, the Junior Portrait Awards received an overwhelmingly positive response from the community. This success led to the competition expanding nationally in 2024, attracting over 100 entries from schools across South Africa, and continuing to grow in reach and impact with 232 entries received in 2026. 

For media queries, contact:
Issued on behalf of Junior Portrait Awards by Ten x Collective.  For media queries please contact: thembalethu@tenxcollective.co.za 076 338 8361.